Cedar is the clear choice when is comes to the best wood to use for a
bluebird house
It’s water-resistant, decay-resistant, and insect-resistant.
Do bluebirds like cedar nesting boxes?
Well Built: A bluebird house should be watertight, yet ventilated and with drainage holes. It should be built of a rot resistant wood, like cedar, or
untreated exterior plywood
.
Is cedar OK for birdhouses?
Cedar is known as the popular choice for a birdhouse The great insulation properties of cedarwood can provide a warm environment inside the birdhouse. This is important especially in winter, as birds love to stay warm. Cedar is also an affordable and common wood type you can easily go with.
Where do you hang a cedar bluebird house?
Bluebird houses should be placed at least 100 yards apart for Eastern and Western Bluebirds, and at least 200 yards apart for Mountain Bluebirds Boxes can be mounted in pairs where Tree Swallows are abundant.
Is cedar toxic to birds?
Cedar bedding and cedar oil are known to irritate birds’ delicate respiratory systems, and at high doses, can actually kill them Birds are especially vulnerable to strong scents—like those found in essential oils, candles, and manufactured fragrances.
What is the best wood for bluebird houses?
You can use any type of wood, but it should be 3/4-inch thick and unpainted/unfinished. White pine is a
good choice
because it is easy to obtain. Do not use particleboard or plywood. Cut the top piece of the
nest box
, 11 1/4″ x 11″.
Which way do you face a bluebird house?
Bluebirds are unable to compete with them for better chance of surviving the first critical hours out of the nesting sites. nest. The house should face south or southeast Selecting a suitable location for the bluebird house is of house.
How do you keep squirrels out of a bluebird house?
- Add a metal ring around the entrance. A squirrel will not be able to chew through the metal, and this will discourage them or even make it incapable for them to stay in your birdhouse.
- Extend the birdhouse roof four or five extra inches.
Why do bluebird houses face east?
For bluebirds, the question of direction does not always refer to compass bearing, but rather the orientation the house opening faces to afford safety, comfort and convenience after the bluebird pair mates.
What wood should I use for a birdhouse?
You can use exterior-quality plywood (for a lightbox) or, for something more sturdy, hardwoods (such as oak and beech) or softwood (such as pine, but this will deteriorate more quickly).
Is Treated wood OK for bird houses?
Pressure-treated wood has been imbued with a combination of pesticide and fungicide, and therefore, should be avoided as a nest box material ; instead, you can extend the life of your nest box by gluing all the joints before nailing them.
What month do bluebirds build nests?
Bluebirds begin scouting out nest boxes as early as late February, or even earlier in the south. If conditions are favorable, they sometimes continue nesting into August or even September.
Is it OK to mount a bluebird house on a tree?
You SHOULD NOT mount bluebird boxes on the sides of trees, fences, or buildings These are very difficult if not impossible to protect from climbing predators. Also, do NOT hang bluebird boxes. They seem to prefer fixed boxes that are not swinging randomly in the wind.
How do I attract bluebirds to my bluebird house?
- Install a Bluebird Nesting Box in your back yard
-
Place the box in an
open area
five to six feet off the ground - Provide food such as meal worms, suet balls or seed consisting all or in part of sunflower chips.
- Water in the form of a small pond or bird bath.
Why is cedar good for birdhouses?
Cedar wood is considered the best wood to make a birdhouse. Its thermal insulation qualities ensure warm and comfortable nests even in winter Cedar is also durable and affordable.
What color should you paint a bluebird house?
Earth Tones Bluebirds prefer earthy tones, such as the colors of grass and dirt. For this reason, shades of brown and green are good choices. Bright colors attract other birds and predators, which is detrimental to bluebirds.
What makes a good bluebird house?
A good bluebird box should be well ventilated, watertight, and have drainage holes It should be easy to open, monitor, and easy to clean. Solid, untreated wood is an ideal material, although exterior grade plywood can be • used. The outside of boxes can be painted or stained if a light color is used.
How do you keep sparrows out of a bluebird house?
- Set up your nest box in an open area, away from houses and barns.
- Consider using a PVC-style bluebird house, like the “Gilbertson” nest box.
- Don’t use cheap bird feed, like cracked corn, at your feeders.
- Monitor your nest boxes regularly to remove house sparrow nests.
How far off the ground should a bluebird house be?
Height: Bluebirds nest within a wide range of heights, from two to 50 feet. Mounting at eye level provides easy checking; however, if cats or other predators are problems, hang nest boxes at least six to eight feet from the ground.
Should you put a perch on a bluebird house?
Do not equip a bluebird nesting box with a perch Bluebirds do not need perches; however, nest competitors such as house wrens and house sparrows will use perches to gain access to a box.
Should you stain a birdhouse?
Painting or staining is not necessary , but doing so will also weatherproof the birdhouse and help it to last for more than one season. You can try a water-based stain that is appropriate for the type of wood from which the dwelling is made.
What is a good material for bird houses?
Wood is the best material for birdhouses Other materials (like metal or plastic) may not insulate the nest enough, so eggs or young could become chilled in cold weather or overheated in warm, sunny weather. Use rough-cut wood slabs, tree sections, or 3/4-inch plywood.
Is it OK to paint birdhouses?
Is it safe to paint a birdhouse? Yes, it is safe to paint a birdhouse as long as you use non-toxic paint Also, ensure the paint you use is not so dark that it absorbs too much heat. Finally, keep in mind that overly bold and bright colors may attract predators if not carefully placed.
How close to my house can I put a bluebird house?
So, if your property is on the edge of the woods, or if you have a brushy patch of land, make sure to place your bluebird house at least 50 feet away, 200 feet away to be safe.
Should bluebird houses be in the shade?
Bluebirds prefer open grassy areas, fields and no shade It’s best to have a place where high grass and weeds do not grow beneath the nest box. Boxes should be posted five to six feet off the ground, although boxes placed a little higher usually suffice.
Do bluebirds nest in winter?
It is quite common to see Bluebirds visit nest boxes during the winter You may even see them carry some nest material into the box. This is not actual nesting behavior but more than likely a male showing off a good place to raise young to a female. It never hurts to get a head start.
What wood is toxic to birds?
Sycamore, Thurlow Tree and Vine Maple are listed as safe for birds, while Red Maple (featured to the far right) is listed as “toxic” on some lists.
What colors attract birds to bird houses?
Picking a Color for Your Bird Feeder or Bird House Gray, dull green, tan, or brown , are colors that make bird houses or bird feeders less visible to predators because they blend in best with natural surroundings. Avoid metallic or fluorescent colors as they tend to be so bright, they offer no cover from predators.
What size hole should a bluebird house have?
Entrance holes to bluebird nesting boxes measure 1½ inches in diameter because this size prevents European starlings from entering. Starlings compete with bluebirds for scarce nesting sites.
Do you have to clean out bluebird houses?
Bluebirds do not remove old nesting material, rather they simply build over an existing nest If you do not clean out your nest box, it may become filled to the brim with old nesting material. This can potentially leave the new nest dangerously close to the entrance hole, where predators can easily reach it.
Where should I put my bluebird house in my backyard?
Place nest boxes in the sunniest, most open area possible, away from your house or deep shade Bluebirds prefer large expanses of short grass with a clear flight path, ideally facing a field. Try not to place the house too close to feeders. Make sure it is mounted 5 to 10 feet off the ground.
When should bluebird houses be cleaned out?
Bluebird experts suggest cleaning them out after each brood has fledged If that isn’t possible, the boxes should be cleaned out after the last brood has left the nest in late summer. That timing won’t disturb them or drive them away. Don’t miss these adorable baby bluebird pictures.
How do I keep wrens out of my bluebird house?
- Mount bluebird houses at least 50 feet away from heavily wooded areas.
- Take down or modify any ornamental bird houses in your yard.
- Keep wrens busy by removing their “dummy nests”
- Use wren guards on active bluebird houses.
Do squirrels bother bluebird houses?
Raccoons and Red Squirrels Raccoons present a danger to cavity nesting birds. They are intelligent and are good climbers; they can reach into a nest box hole and remove its contents. Red squirrels can enlarge the hole of the bluebird house and even take up residence if able to get inside.
Do squirrels invade bird houses?
Why squirrels attack nesting boxes. Squirrels primarily enter birdhouses to find the food inside Squirrels are after seeds, nuts and other vegetarian food items. Squirrels are not carnivorous, but that doesn’t mean they won’t kill nesting birds or put them at risk.
Where do bluebirds go in the winter?
Bluebirds leave breeding grounds in the north of their range to winter in the southeastern U.S. or Mexico Populations in the northern part of their range are entirely migratory, spending winters in the southeastern United States or Mexico. Some fly as far as 2,000 miles between western Manitoba and Texas.
Why are bluebird houses in pairs?
Indeed, fans of Eastern Bluebirds in the upper Midwest long ago began to provide paired nest boxes to ensure that bluebirds were able to coexist with the more aggressive Tree Swallows.
How do bluebirds survive the winter?
In cold weather, they usually sleep in tree cavities or other holes , so they may have been using your nesting boxes to roost in at night.
Citations
https://www.pennington.com/all-products/wild-bird/cedar-bird-house
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Nature-s-Way-Cedar-Bluebird-Box-House-CWH3/205869129
https://www.natureswaybirds.com/blogs/news/bluebird-house-mounting-instructions